A Romanian construction worker who was trapped for several hours under rubble following the partial collapse of a medieval tower in central Rome has died, Italian media reported late Monday.
The man was rescued from beneath debris at the Torre dei Conti, a 29-metre (95-foot) historic structure located between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum, and taken to hospital in critical condition, Rome police chief Lamberto Giannini said earlier in the day.
Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries.
The collapse occurred in two stages, according to eyewitnesses and videos shared on social media. The first partial cave-in happened around 10:30 GMT, followed by a second, larger collapse about 90 minutes later as firefighters worked on stabilizing the structure using aerial ladders.
Clouds of dust and the sound of crumbling masonry filled the area.
A second worker, also Romanian, suffered serious head injuries but was reported to be in stable condition. Two other workers sustained minor injuries and declined hospital treatment.
Authorities confirmed that no firefighters were hurt during the rescue operations.
Local newspaper Corriere della Sera said prosecutors have seized the construction site as an investigation begins into the cause of the collapse.
The Torre dei Conti, originally built in the early 13th century by Pope Innocent III for his family, was once among the tallest towers in medieval Rome, standing nearly twice its current height before earthquakes in the 14th and 17th centuries caused major damage.
The tower, which had long been closed to the public, was undergoing a four-year, EU-funded restoration project aimed at transforming it into a museum and conference center by next year. The surrounding area had been sealed off to pedestrians due to the ongoing works.
City officials said the structure remains standing but has sustained significant internal damage. Experts are now assessing the stability of the building and whether further restoration can safely continue.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
